Safety device for car-couplings



(No Model.)

J. L.ARTER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAR COUPLINGS.

Patented Oct. 9, 1894.

WWI mom NITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. ARTER, on sUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAF'ETY Dev ce FOR CAR-COU PILIINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,136, dated October9, 1894.

Application filed May 22,1894- Serial No. 512,048. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. ARTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sunbury, in the county of Northuniberland and'State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety Devices for Oar-Couplings, of which the following is aspecification. v

In the use of safetycar couplers commonly known as the Janney-typecouplers accidents frequently happen caused by the breakage of the carcoupler or draw-head, the part broken 01f dropping upon the track andthereby causing the derailment of, or injury to cars in the rear of thebroken coupler. These couplers as at present constructed are notprovided with means forinterlocking them vertically and hence, if one ofthem breaks, as above described, or is pulled away from itscar, it isfree to drop upon the track.

My invention relates to a safety device whereby the engaging couplers ofcars are interlocked vertically, that is to say, either coupler willsustain the other and prevent it from falling to the ground in case ofaccidents such as those above outlined.

The invention consists more particularly in a latch pivoted to the upperside of the coupler and arranged to be turned so as to overhang theinterlocking coupler in case of accident to the coupler to which it isattached.

I shall now proceed to describe the preferred form ofmyinvention,reference being had to the accompanying dra wings,in which- Figure 1 isthe plan View of a pair of couplers interlocked and provided with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single coupler providedwith theinvention 3 and Fig. 3 is aside view of the preferred form oflatch.

Referring to the drawings A, A indicate a pair of couplers attachedrespectively to cars B, B; and O, 0' indicate the hinge pins of thecouplers. My improved latch consists, as shown, of a disk or ring Dhaving a central perforation through which the hinge pin passes, an eyeat upon one side and an arm E upon the other. The arm E is preferablyelevated upon an upright or a standard a, so that in coupling oruncoupling it will be out of the way and willnot interfere even if thecouplings are of different sizes or if one is slightly higher than theother.

of the car. When the coupler is in place upon the car, the latch isturned to one side as shown upon the coupler A in the draw ings, so asnot to interfere with the operation of the coupler. The chain is justlong enough to permit the; latch to assume this position.- v If,however, the coupler or draw head should break or pull out from the carthe latch will be immediately thrown around over the adjacent coupler bythe tightening of the chain after which the chain will break or thestaple pull out. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the couplerA is thus shown,the drawhead being pulled out from the car and the staple, also pulledout from the sill or part to which it was fastened. It will be seen thatthe arm E of the latch upon the couplerA overhangs the coupler A andthat should the coupler A be separated entirely from the car B, it wouldbe prevented from dropping to the ground. In such case, it would remaininterlocked with the coupling A, its weight resting partially upon thelatch arm E.

While I have simply shown and described the preferred form of myinvention, it will be evident that many other forms within the spiritthereof may be constructed. For instance, the latch may be pivoted tosome other portion of the coupling, or it may be a sliding latch insteadof a pivoted latch. The main features of the invention consist in asafety latch and means for projecting the latch upon one coupler intoengagement with the interlocking coupler in case of accident to thecoupler having the latch, or its drawhead. 1

Without therefore limiting myself to the 'precise construction andarrangement of parts shown and described, I claim-- 1. The combinationwith a car coupler of the class described, of a safety latch and meansfor projecting said latch into engagement with an interlocking couplerin case of breakage of the draw head orcoupler to which it is attached,for the purpose described.

2. The combination with a car coupler of the class described, of asafety latch pivoted thereto and means whereby said latch is turned intoposition to engage an interlocking coupler in case of breakage of thedraw As shown, the eyed, is connected by means I of a chain F with astaplej; in the woodwork head or coupler to which it is attached, forthe purpose described.

The combination with a car coupler of the class described, of a latchpivoted to the coupler and having an arm adapted to overhang theadjacent coupler and a chain or connection between said latch and thecar, substantially as described.

4:. The combination of a car coupler of the class described, of a safetylatch consisting of a ring or disk having a perforation and mounted uponthe hinge pin of the coupler, an arm adapted to overhang the adjacentcoupler, an eye opposite the arm and a chain or connection uniting saideye to the car body, :5 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. ARTER. Witnesses:

FRANK W. SMITH, CHAS. G. I'IARTMAN.

